Abhinandan Varthaman: MiG 21 vs F-16 fighter, tea with Pak Army, Vir Chakra – How an IAF pilot became a national icon | Today’s news
Hailed as a national hero, former Indian Air Force pilot Abhinandan Varthaman has once again grabbed the limelight since news of him joining a private airline emerged. According to a PTI report, a senior IAF fighter pilot has joined Goa-based commercial airline FLY91 as a pilot. Former IAF Group Captain Abhinandan Varthaman rose to fame after the air standoff between India and Pakistan on 27 February 2019.
Abhinandan Varthaman became a global sensation following India’s airstrike in Balakot in response to the Pulwama suicide attack in Kashmir that killed 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel. In a fierce fight, Mirage-2000s of the IAF hit targets in Pakistan’s Balakot.
How IAF’s Abhinandan Varthman became a national heartthrob
Varthaman, who was a squadron commander at the time, was posted with a squadron of MiG-21 Bison and was on duty at the “operational readiness platform” at Air Station Srinagar when a large fighter jet of the Pakistan Air Force attacked towards the ceasefire. Just five minutes after detection, Varthaman tried to intercept this package.
Varthaman wrote the military aviation script by shooting down a much more advanced US-made Pakistani F-16 using the R-73 air-to-air missile aboard a Soviet-era MiG-21 Bison. Moments later, his own fighter was hit by an AMRAAM missile, forcing him to eject. This air combat episode became famous because it marked the first ever F-16 downing by a MiG-21 Bison involving fighters of two different generations.
After this incident, Varthaman became a star and his unique, heavy handlebar mustache with mutton chops became a national trend. Dubbed the “Abhinandan Cut”, men flocked to barbershops to replicate the look as a tribute to his bravery. Even brands like Amul and Pizza Hut paid tribute to Varthaman’s exceptional gallantry by featuring his iconic mustache silhouette in their advertisements.
Although Varthaman successfully ejected from the MiG-21 Bison, he was captured by the Pakistan Army after landing in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). He was held captive for almost 60 hours, during which time the episode of tea with Pakistan hit the national news. Pakistani authorities released a video showing they were complying with the Geneva Convention, in which Varthaman could be heard saying, “The tea is fantastic, thank you” as he calmly sipped a cup of tea.
After keeping Varthaman in custody for almost three days, the Pakistan Army released Varthaman on 1 March 2019 as a peace gesture following diplomatic negotiations.
After this incident, the Government of India honored Abhinandan Varthaman with the Vir Chakra. After the Param Vir Chakra and the Maha Vir Chakra, the Vir Chakra is considered the third highest award for Indian military valor.
The PTI report further stated that Varthaman joined the airline FLY91 as a pilot in August. The airline, which has two bases — one in Goa and the other in Hyderabad, commenced operations in March 2024 and currently operates a fleet of six ATR 72-600 aircraft.
